Shackamaxon Commemorates Centennial With Series Of Events

The year 1916 marked two milestones in golf: The Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) was founded in New York City, and Shackamaxon Country Club, with its highly touted A.W. Tillinghast designed course, enjoyed a heralded debut in the rural environs of Union County, N.J.

Opened in Westfield (now Scotch Plains) during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, Shackamaxon Country Club (“Shack” as it is affectionately known) will commemorate its centennial with a year-long series of speakers, events, tournaments and activities.

To kick off the celebration, the club will introduce the Shackamaxon Speaker Series with topics ranging from golf history featuring A.W. Tillinghast historian Phil Young (Thursday, March 4) to the upcoming presidential election with political pundit Dick Morris (Wednesday,April 27, open to the public).

On May 23, registered participants may take part in Shack’s Centennial Invitational 18-hole golf tournament and on Aug. 2-3, the club will proudly host the prestigious New Jersey State Golf Association’s Senior Amateur Championship. In the fall, the club will culminate its celebration with an elegant centennial gala.

Shackamaxon’s 100 year anniversary is especially meaningful to the club’s members, the community and golf course historians. Just five years ago in early 2011, the club’s future was in doubt, suffering from the effects of the economic downturn and dwindling memberships in the wake of uncertainty. In December of 2011, an affiliate of RDC Golf Group, a golf course ownership and management company, purchased the club and began the renaissance of Shackamaxon.

Now, the historic club that was nearly lost is basking in success with golf memberships near capacity and social/sports memberships tripling with the club’s introduction of family oriented amenities. Recent club enhancements include the addition of a multi-million dollar resort-style pool complex in 2015; a full golf course bunker restoration and the re-design of an existing par 4 into an acclaimed Tillinghast-inspired “Reef” par 3-hole; an extensive men’s locker room renovation; and refurbishment of the club’s elegant ballroom and grill room bar.

“We are honored and fortunate to be part of ‘Shack’s’ recent resurgence, and thank our members—new and long term—for making it possible,” said Christopher Schiavone, managing partner and chief executive officer of RDC Golf Group, Inc. “This Tillinghast treasure in the New Jersey suburbs is a special club that we have focused on making an exceptional value for members and their families.”

It was family that brought Shackamaxon’s original owner and American Type Founders Company President Robert W. Nelson, to the Westfield area back in 1908.

Looking for a perfect place to call home, Nelson purchased Lambert Farm, a picturesque property that featured meadows, woods and a beautiful lake. Some years later he would decide to build a country club on the farmland and hired up and coming golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast to design the course. Tillinghast had already designed The Shawnee Course in Delaware, Pa., in 1911, and he would later design the renowned Baltusrol, Winged Foot and Bethpage Black courses, among others.

The club known as Shackamaxon opened its doors on Sept. 2, 1916, with hundreds of area residents touring the property. Shack’s first golf professional was Cyril Walker, an established tournament player, who would later win the 1924 U.S. Open. Other well-known Shack professionals included Bobby Cruickshank, one of the original inductees in the PGA Hall of Fame, New Jersey PGA Hall of Famer Danny Williams and New Jersey golf legend Milton “Babe” Lichardus, who served as the club’s head professional from 1969-1973.

Through the years, Shackamaxon has hosted several prestigious golf tournaments. In addition to five New Jersey State Open tournaments and the Metropolitan Open in 1928, the club hosted the PGA Tour’s Cavalcade of Golf in 1955.

Now 100 years after opening its doors, Shackamaxon continues to be the golf and social centerpiece of the Scotch Plains-Westfield communities and its revitalized Tillinghast course remains one of distinction.

To learn more about Shackamaxon, membership at the club or the centennial celebration please visit www.shackamaxoncc.com or call 908-233-1300.